At the Time Warner Center, an Enclave of Powerful Russians
In March 2009, a bookish-looking Russian senator stepped to the podium at the Brookings Institution in Washington. The occasion was the inauguration of a new think tank devoted to United…
Tag: russia
Friend of Putin Assumes Role of Negotiator in Ukrainian Conflict
KIEV, Ukraine — Viktor V. Medvedchuk often turns up in places where only buddies of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia get to go, like the V.I.P. section at a…
Could Greece turn to Russia, China for help?
At the same time the small Mediterranean nation has drawn closer to old ally Russia. Relations between Russia and the EU are the worst they’ve been since the Cold War…
Incredible Photos Of China’s Eagle Hunters Keeping An Ancient Tradition Alive
In parts of China, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia, men have been using birds to hunt for meat and fur for centuries. China’s ethnic Kazakh minority is now doing all it…
Russia’s Putin, Egypt’s el-Sisi agree on preliminary nuclear power deal
He said Russia would contribute to the construction of a nuclear power plant, training staff and scientific research. El-Sisi covered both economic and political cooperation in his remarks. – Putin’s…
Once Friendly With Putin, German Goes to Court Over Seized Assets
MUNICH, Germany — For anyone looking for insight on how to deal with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and the Kremlin as negotiations over Ukraine intensify, Franz J. Sedelmayer…
Merkel Is Best To Solve The Crisis With Putin, Says Former Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt
Carl Bildt, a former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden, is one of Europe’s leading statesmen. He is also a member of the Steering Committee of the Berggruen Institute’s…
Ruble’s Fall Tests Governor of Russia’s Central Bank
MOSCOW — Elvira S. Nabiullina, the governor of Russia’s central bank, was deep into a speech about her new currency policy when it became clear nobody was paying attention. Her…
Putin in Ukraine: Why would he stop in the face of weakness?
Since invading and annexing Crimea almost one year ago, the Russian president has been running rings around the European Union, NATO and the Obama administration. It is not that Putin…
European Foreign Ministers Postpone Russia Sanctions to Allow Talks
BRUSSELS — Hoping that diplomacy can still calm an escalating conflict in eastern Ukraine and avert a rift with the United States over whether to send arms to Ukraine, European…
Crazy Russian Sets Self On Fire, Jumps Off A Building (VIDEO)
Putin on a show in Russia isn’t easy. – It’s not the first time he’s taken a burning leap off a building, but it’s probably the most dangerous stunt featured…
Mystery ash covers parts of Washington, Oregon states
The volcano, located on the Kamchatka peninsula in extreme northeast Russia, “spewed an ash plume to about the 20,000-foot level in late January,” the agency says. “It has been deposited…
Ukraine at crossroads: What’s next in conflict?
It’s hard to imaginebut truethat the raging conflict between Ukraine and Russia, or at least Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels, all started with a humble trade agreement. As tensions run high…
Ukraine Insists Any Pact With Putin Must Adhere to Terms Set in September Accord
KIEV, Ukraine — As the leaders of Germany and France prepared to travel to Moscow on Friday to press President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on a deal to end…
Russian lesbians photobomb anti-gay lawmaker
Milonov was the driving force behind a law that bans “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.” As a lawmaker with the ruling United Russia party, he ensured the legislation…
Putin Spending Big On Military Modernization Despite Russia’s Economic Woes
Hundreds of new Russian aircraft, tanks and missiles are rolling off assembly lines. Russian jets roar through European skies under NATO’s wary eye. Tens of thousands of troops take part…
7 Genius Kids Who Are Creating Change In Their Own Backyards
Too often we hear the phrase wunderkind applied to just-out-of-college startup CEOs in Silicon Valley. Here’s a vote for using the term in the intended way: to convey that there’s…
Facing up to Putin’s endgame
The first thing for the West to understand is that, in the short run, no amount of sanctions will force Russia to leave Ukrainenot until the Kremlin achieves victory, which…
Saudi Arabia Is Said to Use Oil to Lure Russia Away From Syria’s Assad
WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia has been trying to pressure President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to abandon his support for President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, using its dominance of the…
UN Criticizes Civilian Deaths In Ukraine Fighting
The United Nations on Tuesday sharply criticized both the Ukrainian government and the pro-Russian rebels for turning bus stops, schools, markets and hospitals into battlegrounds where civilians are getting killed….
German Chancellor Rules Out Weapons Aid to Ukraine
BUDAPEST — Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday ruled out any German supply of weapons to Ukraine, but emphasized that Europe must stay united against Russian aggression. As long as Russia…
Greece Steps Back Into Line With European Union Policy on Russia Sanctions
BRUSSELS — Gathering in Brussels, European foreign ministers scrambled on Thursday to hold a united front against Russia over Ukraine, calming worries that the election of a far-left government in…
Greece: Putin’s new ally in Europe?
The two countries have established trade ties. Almost 13% of Greek imports came from Russia in 2013, according to the IMF. Greece’s share of Russian imports is much less significant….
Maria Sharapova Breezes Past Compatriot to Reach Final
MELBOURNE, Australia — As it turned out, an Australian Open semifinal was not Maria Sharapova’s toughest all-Russian match in Melbourne this year. That came in the second round, when she…
Biden: Russia To Face Increasing Penalties Unless It Changes Course
Vice President Joe Biden says Russia must face increasing penalties unless it changes course on Ukraine. – The call comes as separatists say they’ve almost fully encircled government forces in…
Alexander Litvinenko Murder Suspect Calls Accusations ‘Nonsense’
LONDON — Andrei K. Lugovoi, a Russian entrepreneur and former K.G.B. bodyguard accused of poisoning Alexander V. Litvinenko with radioactive polonium 210, was quoted on Wednesday as saying the charges…
U.S. Signs $2 Billion Loan Agreement With Ukraine, Offers To Increase Pressure On Russia
KIEV, Jan 28 (Reuters) – The United States on Wednesday signed an agreement providing war-torn Ukraine with $2 billion in loan guarantees to help it with “near-term social spending” in…
Russian Movie ‘Leviathan’ Gets Applause in Hollywood but Scorn at Home
MOSCOW — In many ways, the movie “Leviathan” is Russia’s greatest cinematic accomplishment in years, maybe decades. The Golden Globe winner this month for best foreign film, it provides an…
S.&P. Cuts Russian Debt One Notch to Junk Level
As Russia deals with the heavy toll of Western sanctions and falling oil prices, a major credit ratings agency on Monday downgraded the country’s sovereign debt to below investment grade,…
Pro-Russian Rebels Advance In Eastern Ukraine, Fighting Intensifies
By Natalia Zinets and Denis Dyomkin KIEV/ST PETERSBURG, Jan 26 (Reuters) – Russian-backed rebels pushed forward on Monday with a new offensive that has brought all-out war back to eastern…